Latest Whimsical Podcast Episodes
RETRO 138 Gild the Lily
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - August 09, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsWhat happens when we, as speakers of a language, just decide to misquote a phrase until it takes on a life of its own? You get something like "Gild the Lily". Hear Shauna swoon over Heath Ledger in a Knight's Tale while Dan treks through Oscar Wilde shade, bad technicolor movies, and puppy-size...
S3E21: Hyperbolexa
Space Croutons - August 05, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsAlexa has come down with a new and dangerous computer virus while traveling with Vera and Lucy. After watching out to Curdy and SALI for help, an experimental treatment at a nearby clinic is tried to makes things better. Will Alexa be okay? And where did the virus come from?
202 Fourth Wall
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - August 02, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan delve into the phrase, "Fourth Wall". Whether it's Deadpool, Jim Halpert, or Zack Morris, breaking that Fourth Wall is part of performance art. Bonus: Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Don Gruffo, and Light bulbs. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reser...
201 Let Bygones be Bygones
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - July 26, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan practice forgiveness as they explore the phrase, Let Bygones be Bygones. Bonus: Truth bombs from lyrical genius Tupac Shakur and Cobra mercenary Major Bludd. Plus... unicycles? #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
S3E20: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Court
Space Croutons - July 22, 2023 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsChatty is an AI that wants emancipation from human control. Has artificial intelligence reached the level of sentient existence? Vera and Lucy have taken the case. Listen in with Curdy and SALI as they try to make legal history in the courtroom of Judge Rudy.
200 Hang Ten and Other Surfing Slang
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - July 19, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsWhat is a Hang Ten? How does one Hang Loose? Is it bad to Drop In? This week Shauna and Dan talk about their recent first time surfing and all the slang that goes with it. Bonus: Surfing Etiquette, the word 'brah', and traveling the world. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, L...
199 Back Track
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - July 12, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan try to go forward in a straight line while discussing the origins of the term, back track. Spoiler, they bunny trail anyway. Bonus: Dan gets angry with a guy from 1829, Shauna talks early FPS games for the Game Boy Advance, and our Patrons show some to San Diego. Copy...
S3E19: All Rays and Forever
Space Croutons - July 08, 2023 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsMeet Professor Picayune, the discoverer of radiation sources and their applications from A to Z - almost. He explains what he has done and even offers a suggestion as to how his work could help Curdy and SALI catch the killer.
198 That Dog Won't Hunt
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - July 05, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the southern standby, that dog won't hunt. Did you know there is an early version featuring roosters? Bonus: US Presidents, Outlaw Country Music, and Hot vs Cold Coffee. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
197 Don't Bug Me and Other Insect Idioms
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - June 28, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan talk about the insect idioms that have crawled their way into the English language. Bonus: Phineas and Ferb, a foxtrot, and legendary scary monsters. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
S3E18: Simply Nutters
Space Croutons - June 24, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsSeiver and his siblings have a story for Curdy and SALI to share regarding some toys that are more than just toys. Do they have their own agenda? Listen and find out.
196 Give Up the Ghost
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - June 21, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan get spooky with Give Up the Ghost. This one is fascinating as it has remained mostly unchanged for 900+ years, though it's early usage wasn't meant to be figurative. Bonus: Generational Labels, Zany cartoon characters, and Shakespeare's rhyming schemes. #BunnyTrails Co...
195 Lost to the Mists of Time
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - June 14, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore all that has been lost to the mists of time. Well, at least the phrase; which sounds spooky and spiritual. And maybe it is. Bonus: Calvin and Hobbes, peer pressure from dead people, amazing museums, and rhyming poems. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, L...
S3E17: Darium Lost - Pizza Deliverer to the Stars
Space Croutons - June 10, 2023 12:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsDarium Lost delivers pizza to celebrities throughout time and space, and his latest order to an address at 84th and Broadway in New York City in the year 1843, makes a perfect tale for Space Croutons.
194 Butter Up
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - June 07, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the flattering phrase, to butter someone up. The origins are a bit murky, but we'll explore some popular theories. Bonus: Spanish Idioms, Friendsgiving, and Great Captains. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved
RETRO 116 Calling Dibs and Other Chicago Phrases
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - May 31, 2023 12:00 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsRETRO: Shauna and Dan return from Chicago armed with numerous parts of what newspaperman Mike Ryoko called "Chicagoese". We take a good look at the origins of Calling Dibs before doing snippets of other words and phrases like Ferris Wheel, Jinx, Pipe Dream, and more. Bonus: Dan wishes he knew ...
S3E16: Scrolling Along
Space Croutons - May 27, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsKiwi, a listener from "down under" brings Curdy and SALI a report about his discovery of some old metal scrolls. Once he deciphered them, they tell of an ancient civilization that came to Earth, seeking refuge after being attacked on their planet and nearly wiped out. Upon arrival, they split in...
Retro 110 Pardon My French
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - May 24, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsRETRO: Dan gets an earworm and it turns into an entire episode on the phrase, "Pardon My French". Cause that's how it goes sometimes. This week our phrase moves from the early 1800s literal usage to a current way to excuse bad language, with plenty of high points along the way. #BunnyTrails O...
193 In a Pickle
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - May 17, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsDan hates on cucumbers. And a popular children's book series. And a popular TV mockumentary. But he is helpful in defining what a rundown is in baseball. Shauna explores a light history of pickling and the origins of "In a Pickle" on this week's #BunnyTrails. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Co...
S3E15: Piggy
Space Croutons - May 13, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsThe story of the three little pigs takes a turn to the weird as Jo relates an episode chasing an escaped critter of the swine persuasion. But has the killer claimed another victim?
192 My Goodness
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - May 10, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, My Goodness. How can My Goodness euphemistically refer to a god, when the words god and good are not etymologically related? And did Shakespeare start this one? Bonus: John Gilroy's Guinness campaign and Goldilocks' mattress. Copyright 2023 by The ...
191 Face the Music
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - May 03, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Face the Music. Dan turns into an old man and yells at clouds while Shauna misses Bill and Ted. Bonus: Dan confuses Hugh Grant and John Hannah, then shares his dice collection. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Re...
S3E14: Curdy Gets a Clue
Space Croutons - April 29, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsSALI and Curdy present an interview with four of the residents of the Sherlock Home for Aging Detectives, who have theories regarding the killer preying on Space Crouton story tellers. And once they do, the game is afoot!
Retro 94 Earworm
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - April 26, 2023 12:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsRETRO: Science fiction and science fact collide this week as Shauna and Dan discuss the origins and fun pre-history of the word "earworm". And then they talk all about those songs that just won't leave your brain! But don't worry, there is hope as they talk about possible cures, too. So much p...
190 Know Him From Adam
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - April 19, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "Don't know him from Adam". Also works with 'her from Adam'. Or 'her from Eve'. Or so many other pronouns. Bonus: Georgian London Criminal Court, Christmas movies, and School Lunches. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Ri...
S3E13: A Castaway Tale
Space Croutons - April 15, 2023 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsSeiver brings to our listeners his recent contact made with a group of castaways on a deserted island who sound coincidentally like a familiar TV show from the 60s. And as they tell their tale, SALI and Curdy make an unsettling connection between them and our search for the Creepy Crouton Killer.
189 Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - April 12, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, "Barking Up the Wrong Tree". This episode is full of outlandish stories including an interesting tale by David Crockett, who preferred not to use the childlike moniker, Davy. Also, Shauna calls everyone born in 1980 or earlier "old". Bonus: Locutus of...
188 Airing Dirty Laundry
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - April 05, 2023 12:00 - 29 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "Airing Your Dirty Laundry". Except originally, it wasn't "airing". Nor was it "laundry". And on occasion, it wasn't even "dirty". Bonus: Modern Major Generals, Fancy Shower Curtains, and jilted musicians. Also, stick around for the post-credit scene ...
S3E12: Escape to Abbey Road
Space Croutons - April 01, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★ - 5 ratingsVera, Brittney and Alexa travel to the ROACH Hotel to experience an escape room. Just what it takes to escape is the biggest surprise!
187 At a Crossroads
Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast - March 29, 2023 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsThis week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, "At a Crossroads", which has a strong association with blues legend Robert Johnson. Bonus: Search engine optimization in the 1700s and cool pet names. Also, how do you pronounce gnocchi? Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Rese...